Severe heatwave alert for six districts in South Bengal, no relief in sight

Severe heat and humidity continue to affect South Bengal, with no relief expected in the coming days. According to the Alipore Weather Department, the temperature in Kolkata and surrounding areas will remain high on Thursday, forcing residents to endure intense heat. The department has issued a heatwave alert for six districts: West Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura, East Bardhaman, West Bardhaman, and Birbhum. These districts have recorded maximum temperatures at least five degrees Celsius above normal, meeting the criteria for a heatwave.

Kalaikunda in West Midnapore was the hottest location in the state on Wednesday, with the temperature reaching 44.4°C. Meanwhile, Dumdum in Kolkata saw a temperature of 40.1°C. The persistent heat is attributed to moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal and hot winds from Jharkhand, which prevent the heat from dissipating. Despite the moisture, the air is not expected to bring any rain, causing the heat and humidity to worsen.

While South Bengal is expected to continue facing high temperatures until Friday, there is a slight possibility of light to moderate rain in some districts on Saturday. However, this rain is unlikely to provide significant relief from the heat. In contrast, North Bengal may experience thunderstorms and light to moderate rain in districts like Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Kalimpong. The weather department has warned that the heatwave will persist for several more days in the affected regions.